The spring season is here and we are more than thrilled. The dessicated Jennifer is rehydrating with all the abundance of spring. ;) Make time to go outdoors. It will fill you up...I promise.
Just look at the life all around us...a tree 100% determined to live:
Bloodroot trusting the warmth and unfurling their magnificent, elephant-ear-like leaves...
Do you know sedges? We invite you to, if not. Look at the color of this Plantain-leaved Sedge (Carex plantaginea)...holy smokes!
Ohio Buckeye unfurling leaves stop us in our tracks every single time. Can you even believe these leaves are all bunched up inside the protective buds over the winter? It feels like a miracle.
Bluets (Houstonia) are one of the very first native plants I really learned thanks to a super kind and sharing college professor who gave me one upon my graduation. Ever since that time, I find myself smitten every time we pass a patch growing out of some piles of rocks or very hard scrabble earth. This patch is right on the edge of a trail...
Spring Beauty emerging from soil working their beauty magic...
I adore cohosh and here is a fabulous patch of Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). We have blue and black (Actaea racemosa) growing on our land now and we can't wait till we can propagate them and get them sustainably out into the world.
Steve stopped to listen to a Louisiana waterthrush and then noticed these young American Sycamores lining the trail in a cathedral of moisture and sunshine loving trees.
Leatherwood is an understory shrub hardly anyone knows about and it is sooooooo cool! Steve seeks this shrub out everywhere we go. The twigs are bendy, the flowers stunning, the foliage colorful...everything is to love about this shrub.
Witch Hazel is adored by many, including us. If you get the opportunity to smell the blooms, don't ever pass it up. Your whole day will be lifted thanks to the sweet, sweet scent.
How does this teeny, tiny Harbinger-of-Spring or Salt and Pepper emerge so early? We are constantly in awe of these little plants that are so much hardier than we find ourselves. I had to get down on my knees and thank my almighty stars for this gift of spring.
Spicebush blooms truly dance their little sunshine flowers when in bloom. They light up the forest with their brightness and make us remember that soon Spicebush Swallowtails will emerge and lay their precious eggs on the very leaves of this important plant.
This time of year is also when our larders get a little empty and so we find ourselves seeking new flavors. Thank goodness we have horseradish in the garden. Steve braved the fiery, volatile oils and processed the roots. We flung all the windows open and still his eyes (and mine) cried. Minnie Pearl didn't seem to mind...
In fact, she and Alvin just love sitting in the kitchen, in the smallest part of our house to make sure we don't forget to give them treats.
Superman Steve is also raising up some more of our garden beds, by harvesting all the wonderful path soil and putting that in the beds. We used to add woodchips every year to our paths and it broke down to the most beautiful, loose, black soil you might ever want in a growing bed so there it went.
We are posting WAY more frequently to You Tube, than our blog, so make sure to follow us there too. I linked to all our recent videos below and in the future, I will just give the general video link since we are so prolific. ;) Take good care everyone!
Happy Earth Day
Beauty in Life and Life Lost (Barred Owl)
Bloodroot and Leaf Litter
Silly Girl thrilled by Louisiana Waterthrush
Totally Fascinating Ants
Willows, plant some!
2019 Spring High Tunnel Tour
Seed Miracles
I am having fun this spring tracking when various plants and flowers emerge, and comparing to the past two years. I learned about a phenology calendar and am fascinated. Cutleaf toothwort bloomed two days ago, white trillium and Jack in the pulpit getting ready to pop.
ReplyDeleteCarla...that sounds fabulous. Spring is happening for you! We so enjoy paying attention to the difference in timing. I heard our first RT Hummingbird here yesterday 5/2 and saw our first Catbird of the year. So much is happening and it's sooooo exciting!
DeleteWe are marching right on into summer here as the birds are feeding the first brood, the trees are fully leafed, and the heat is on. Look forward to seeing your garden plantings this year.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh baby birds...the best! We have little robins under our soffit on our gutter. The parents are soooo good! Happy almost summer, Sondra!
DeleteNice post!
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